Archive for the 'Money Saving Tips' Category
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
Yes, you can buy your milk, eggs, bread and your Christmas gifts for your family during your weekly grocery trip!
Most grocery store chains have a gift card mall with gift card for everyone! There are gift cards for everything you can think of! Of course we are all know about gift cards to the book store and restaurants, but you should stop by and look at all the new and unique gift cards that are now available! Give your babysitter a gift card for gasoline! How about a fast food gift card for your postman? Your child’s teacher would love a gift card to Michael’s craft stores. What college kid wouldn’t love a gift card toward the purchase of an airline ticket?! Give that “hard to shop for teen” a gift card to a show store. My mom loves to go out once a week with her girlfriends for lunch and a movie. I am getting her some gift cards for her Girl’s Day Out.
You can find a gift card for any budget and anyone on your list!
I have always shopped year round for Christmas and enjoyed having everything done by holiday time. But, I did have to secure one whole closet for my purchases, boxes and gift wrap. I am able to store all my Christmas gifts in an envelope! Wrapping is so easy! I can use an decorated envelope or a small gift box or bag.
I don’t have to run around the mall looking for deals, I am crossing people off my list every other week, and I don’t have to worry about storage!
Posted in Holiday Budgeting | No Comments »
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
My husband made 4 of these Emergency Kits last Christmas and gave them to each of our immediate families. You can personalize them to match your needs and even do one with just food and water! Having these little luxuries in an easy to carry duffel bag would mean so much to us if we had mere moments to evacuate our home.
Keep this in an easy to find place. We keep our in the closet next to the front door. Also, you may want to add to it throughout the year. It would be a good idea to open it up and inspect it once or twice a year. Give yourself a visual reference as to what’s in there so if the time comes to use it, you’ll remember more easily what you have.
Putting all this stuff together may seem like a daunting task. If you take it little by little, you’ll see that it’s not that hard and it won’t be such a hit on your bank account. Before you know it, you’ll have an emergency kit and a sense of security knowing you’re covered if an emergency hits.
(more…)
Posted in Mommy Moments, Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Can you believe it? Gas is over $4.60 a gallon and financial experts predict we can go up t0 $12.00 a gallon in five years and see this period in history as the good old days! The other day I filled up my tank and it was $65.00! I remember when I could buy 2 round trip tickets on Southwest airlines for less than that only two years ago! This is getting out of hand. The price of gasoline is on the lips of everyone and a hot topic for discussion and rant. A few months ago, people would pump gas and turn to someone else who was also pumping gas and find a comrade in the complaining about the cost to fill the tank. Now, no one says a word at the pump. They just stand there in stunned silence as they see the better part of their paycheck pumped into a tank of gas that may last them a week if they are lucky.
(more…)
Posted in Gas Prices, Mommy Moments | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Why does Christmas still take us all by surprise? It has been on the same day for a million years and still we all panic on the 20th of December like it’s a brand new concept! What? Get an evergreen tree and pull it into the house? Put lights up on the house? Buy a gift for every relative, even the ones we never see? Send a card to people we never hear from? What’s that? I need special paper to wrap the gifts?
(more…)
Posted in Holiday Budgeting | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
Do you cut coupons? Not worth your time huh? Well, let’s say you can save anywhere from $20.00 to $70.00 in one shopping trip? It takes maybe an hour to search, scan or cut out and organize coupons…..so now I ask you, I would love to make $20.00 to $70.00 per hour! That isn’t chump change! If I save on the higher end, I can fill my tank with my savings!
(more…)
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Most homes nowadays have a thermostat that you can set to work for you. A programmable thermostat set to AUTO will turn the unit off when it reaches a certain temperature. Turning it down during times when you are under covers will save on your energy bill too. Besides, it’s your spouses job to keep you warm at night. While it feels nice to let your AC warm or cool you, keep in mind it’s more cost effective to just change your clothes than to condition the air in your home. Pull on a sweater when it’s cold or put on shorts and a tank top if it’s hot. Don’t forget to turn the AC off when you leave the house. There’s no reason to heat or cool an entire house when no one is even home.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | 1 Comment »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Preventative maintenance on your car only takes a few minutes and usually less than $40 bucks. First, stop putting off that oil change. (You’re supposed to do it every three thousand miles!) The cost is about $30 and will literally save your engine. While you’re there, have the mechanic change your air filter and check the pressure in your tires. Your engine will be well lubed and will breathe easier. Doing these three things can make your car run better and use less gasoline.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Friday, April 18th, 2008
Having every light in the house on makes sense if you’ve just watched a scary movie. That’s the only time though. Leaving the lights on in rooms that no one is in uses a lot of energy and for no good reason. Take a few minutes to patrol the house for unused lights and you’ll save hundreds over the course of a year.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
Did you know that there is a building in almost every city that has thousands of hard and soft cover books, magazines, books on CD, videos and a quiet place to sit once in a while? It’s a magical place where you can borrow things that could cost upwards to hundreds of dollars per year but here, you can get them for FREE! That’s right people, the public library system is still in place and ready for your family’s inquisitive minds. Find one in your area and you’ll save tons of cash. Who knows, you might even learn something.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 16th, 2008
Bad habits cost a lot of money. Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs will drain your bank account. Then, there’s the fact that you’re not taking care of your body. Kicking bad habits will make you feel better and help you find a cleaner crowd of people to hang out with.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Sunday, April 13th, 2008
Get out your favorite credit card, turn it over and call the number on the back. When the customer service rep answers say this, “I’m going to be transferring my balance on your card to another card unless you reduce my interest rate.” If you get nowhere with the first rep, ask for a manager or supervisor. They don’t want to lose your business so you’ll most likely get the reduction. To calculate what you will save in a year, take the reduction of your APR and multiply it by the balance on your card. Example: they give you a 2% reduction on your $6000 balance, you will end up saving $120! If the call take you 15 minutes, then your hourly wage value is $480. I know, wishful thinking.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Friday, April 11th, 2008
Whether you have young kids or pre-teens, it’s not that hard to entertain them and you don’t have to break the bank trying to keep them entertained. Expensive trips to the movies, the arcade or mall… because they’re “bored” is a money trap. You’ll never have enough money to keep up with their wants and there will always be something better, faster, cooler that you’ll be expected to buy. If you have a reader, read with them. If you have an artist, setup a station and paint with them. If you have a future engineer, build cities with Legos. All they really want is to spend time with you. Unless, of course, you have a teen. In that case you’re pretty much on your own. And when I say you’re on your own what I mean is that you should pretend you don’t exist in the presence of your teen.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
Ecards, emails, and instant messaging… what ever happened to putting forth a little bit of effort to communicate with someone? You don’t have to be an artist to come up with a beautiful note card to say thank you to someone who deserves it. With a little bit of effort and some fairly inexpensive supplies, you’ll be in business. There are hobby stores everywhere (Michaels) that always have sales on card stock and stamps and cute little embellishments to turn a simple piece of paper into an ornate expression of your appreciation. This will make it even more special than anything you could buy from the card isle at Albertsons. And it will keep you from having to explain to a child why an almost nude hunk is on a card that says, “Wanna blow out my candle?”.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Monday, April 7th, 2008
Martha is on to something here folks. Pulling together a few inexpensive home-bakes and wrapping them in cellophane with a pretty bow is not only good for your wallet but it’s kind of chic right now. These gifts are perfect for potlucks, dinners with friends or even just to brighten someone’s day. Don’t be ashamed to toot your own horn either. Include a note that says, “Baked with love by…” People will be impressed that you were able to line both eyes, get completely dressed AND bake a three level cake with candy jimmies in the shape of sharks (the theme of the party) on the top. All it takes is a little bit of planning and you’ll look like a pro.
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
Saturday, April 5th, 2008
Save money by turning off the TV. That new, mouth-watering burger begging for my 6 dollars, the amazing Tobi steamer which would save hours on ironing, Time Life and Peter Fonda talking me into their incredible once in a lifetime offers for the music of the 60’s, a sale at Ross, and so many more tantalizing deals. The temptations are sometimes too much to bear and your finances end up suffering. Instead of being subjected to it, turn that TV off! Read a book, write that memoir you’ve been thinking of, clean out the junk drawer or play a board game with your family. If you must, watch a movie without the commercials. Who knows, it could save you from the call of the Gazel… “You can do it!”
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »